First Todd Cunningham was pulled from Gwinnett’s lineup in the middle of the game Wednesday. Soon he hopped a flight to Miami to join the Braves. Then he was in the lineup at left field for the series opener Friday night against the Marlins.
There was little time for Cunningham to think about his first big-league start, and he said that’s the way he likes it.
“That’s the biggest thing is I go straight from playing every day to getting a start today,” Cunningham said. “It’s nice to not have to sit a few games and just jump right in there. I know it’s a different scale, but it’s just another baseball game. I try to approach it like all of the others.”
The Braves recalled Cunningham from Triple-A Gwinnett soon after deciding to place Kelly Johnson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique. Johnson left the game at Cincinnati on Wednesday with the injury.
In 30 games at Gwinnett this season Cunningham, a switch hitter, is batting .286 with a .356 on-base percentage and just 13 strikeouts in 105 at-bats. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Cunningham’s defense can help the outfield.
“This is a guy who can play all three positions,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve always knew this guy is very fundamentally sound, one of the best defenders we have in our organization. He came close to making the club out of spring training. He’s done a good job in Triple-A, puts the ball in play.”
The Braves selected Cunningham in the second round of the 2010 draft out of Jacksonville (Ala.) State. He made his big-league debut with the Braves in 2013 and appeared in eight games before being sent back to Gwinnett.
Cunningham was at Gwinnett for all of the 2014 season and hit .287 with a .347 on-base percentage.
“It’s just been past the couple of years, approach every game like you are in the big leagues. That way when it happens — if it happens — it’s not a surprise,” Cunningham said. “You kind of know what you are doing and you have your game plan. It’s been one continuous process every game (of) not getting too settled and content with where you are at. It sounds cliche, I know, but it’s true that you show up every day and try to work on something.”
Gonzalez said Cunningham wouldn’t be limited to playing left field. It’s likely he will get the most time there, though, with Nick Markakis as the everyday right fielder and Cameron Maybin having become the mainstay in center.
Gonzalez said Jonny Gomes, who has 14 starts in left field, would be in the lineup against left-handed starters. He said he’d also try to find spots to play Gomes and Eric Young Jr. against right-handers.
“I don’t like to not play guys for long periods of time,” Gonzalez said.
